The opening ceremony of the Kinto Future Cup, the tournament reserved for the best youth talents of our peninsula (female and male). From local rallies (two for each region) to the national stage with live broadcast Futsal TV, with the possibility for the men’s area to cultivate the Azzurri dream: the most promising profiles, in fact, will strengthen the Under 19 national team. Tomorrow the official start of the matches with the semi-finals.
BERGAMINI – “An event that fills us with happiness and pride. Off the pitch there is the story of futsal, but you are the truth, what happens on the pitch, in your sporting lives and what we are committed to – the president of the Futsal Division, Luca Bergamini, told the boys – . How does one become a manager or technician? It all comes from the lack of that sporting dimension, once experienced. That dimension of friendship, living together for a goal. Sport is the easiest way to relive this dynamic. You represent the future, I am here to tell you that you are the drive and motivation to try to create a better futsal. We started three years ago with the collaboration of extraordinary members of futsal, such as SGS, Club Italia and the Federation itself, which supported us for a complex event that brought us to see over 800 kids. They represent what the future will be for us. Tell everyone what this sport is, that there is another way to achieve happiness and it is not living for success. Happiness remains, success is just a past participle. Focus on the happiness this sport can give you, the complete life it can give you. I wish you the best and I hope that many of you will be able to wear the national team shirt as soon as possible. But remember: the reward is the journey, enjoy it. Don’t think about the beginning or the end. The journey together with teammates and technicians, that is the real wealth. What you will have left.”
SHELL – “It is not a statement of circumstance, but – underlines the vice president Antonio Scocca – I want to thank all those who worked on the project: personalities who are 100% part of this sport and who made themselves completely available to the kids, with incredible enthusiasm. Under 18, Under 17 and Under 15 women, an invaluable asset to accompany in growth: we address these categories so that through fun they can continue to express the qualities already highlighted. We, as a true sporting family, will try to enjoy everything they put on the field.”
FREEDOMS – Rimini native and player of Feldi Eboli winner of the Super Cup, Francesco Liberti highlighted how “what the Division is doing for young people is very important. My generation and the previous one did not have these opportunities: it was more difficult to emerge and establish themselves, especially for Italians, but making sport that you love your job is the most beautiful thing in the world. Reaching high levels is now possible and can give a lot of satisfaction as it happened to me. Be aware of what you are doing, appreciate its value, you have a nice clear road ahead of you and it could be a wonderful experience.”
RIZZELLO – Then the speech by Massimiliano Rizzello, SGS coordinator for Emilia-Romagna. “I thank President Bergamini for the invitation. My Romagna is always happy and proud to host this event, now in its third edition. The kids need to think about having fun, but also about the opportunity they have to show some technical gestures and think about something more.”
DETECTIVE STORIES – The technical coordinator of the Kinto Future Cup, Piero Gialli, was beaming. “Every year we try to improve. This year there was a very important scouting activity that led to some choices. But, as I have reiterated at every gathering, the path of those who are not here must continue in the societies, transmitting the message that there is strong attention towards the entire youth sector. I have always recommended myself on behaviors, on moral values that are essential and decisive to become a real player. Technique is not enough. In this competition there will be no winner, we all won. I hope to see a lot of quality on the pitch and that this group can strengthen its national activity, to start growing again in the international ranking”.
WELCOME – Word to Cinzia Benvenuti, technical manager for women’s. “Thanks to this experience I toured all over Italy and found incredible enthusiasm, exceptional availability and a good technical level. I also expect to see surprises: a rally is not a race. And I’m sure that under pressure we can give even more.”
BLACKS – The best coach in the world of 2022, Massimiliano Neri, worked across the board. “Male or female, it makes no difference to me, you go out on the pitch and do futsal. Thanks to those who chose me for this role, it was an exceptional experience that allowed me to meet wonderful people, united by passion. I have always told the kids to think, to dream with their heads. But what I feel like telling them right now is just to cultivate the passion that I saw in them and make it contagious, to pass it on to everyone.”
PEDRINI – “There is great attention towards all the kids, they are followed not only by our staff but also by that of the Under 19 national team – remarked Vanni Pedrini -. The Kinto Future Cup is a very important event for us and I thank the Division for carrying forward this project. It’s wonderful to see the athletes grow before our eyes: the 2004 players from two years ago are now decisive in the youth championships, they are entering Serie A and are transformed into increasingly competitive players, as well as better men. I would like to reiterate this: if they were selected it is because they deserve as men, before as players.”
GOAT EATER – Following, Giuseppe Mangiacapra, responsible for the Central South Area as deputy to Silvio Crisari. “This is a path that comes from afar and today it is a starting point and not an arrival point. The young people who are here today have worked hard and deserve to be there.”
GIUFFRIDA – Sebastiano Giuffrida doesn’t hold back his emotion. “Going around scouting talent is literally my life. I thank the Division for letting me participate in this wonderful event. When everything started, two years ago, the doors of the National Team opened for me and I hope that the doors of the Under 19 Experimental National Team can be opened to the boys present here, and not only that. If you have a dream, follow it. Yesterday Carmelo Musumeci sent me a message: “You are also in this scudetto”. He made me move. He reminded me of the times when Meta Catania lost a lot to zero against Genzano back then, today – however – that Meta Catania is an example for an entire nation. I hope that your path of growth is equally important.”
LARI – “I have a wonderful relationship with five-a-side football, because my brother plays it and it is thanks to futsal that he rediscovered the love for the ball that he had lost with football – says Michele Lari, Rimini’s Sports Councilor -. I’m sure it will be a wonderful edition, we can’t wait to see these guys at work, hoping that it will be a wonderful adventure both from a futsal and a human point of view.”
THE PHOTOGALLERY
KINTO FUTURE CUP 2024
PALAFLAMINIO – RIMINI
MONDAY 24 JUNE: Opening ceremony
TUESDAY 25 JUNE
10am – Women’s Semifinal 1: WHITE-BLACK
12pm – Women’s Semifinal 2: RED-ROYAL
4pm – Men’s Semifinal 1: NORTH-CENTRAL NORTH
6pm – Men’s semi-final 2: CENTRAL SOUTH-SOUTH
WEDNESDAY 26 JUNE
10am – Women’s 3rd/4th place final
12pm – Men’s 3rd/4th place final
3pm – Women’s 1st/2nd place final
5pm – Men’s 1st/2nd place final
